"Even if it is not as invasive in our country, we must become aware that it exists and take the necessary measures to combat it."
Kenya's neighbours change their minds about Covid-19.
Tanzania, after the untimely death of their 'quasi-maximo' leader John Pombe Magufuli who had declared that he had defeated the virus through prayers and that his nation was Covid Free, so much so that he kicked out WHO leaders and did not close the country to international tourism, has decided on a major health turnaround.
This was announced by the new president, Magufuli's former deputy Samia Suluhu Hassan, at a press conference held in the capital Dodoma where she presented the committee of experts who will advise her on the status of Covid-19 in the country and the rules to be followed for containment and treatment.
"As I promised during the swearing-in of my ministers and their deputies," said the President, "I have already formed a committee. I expect to meet with its members and representatives of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance and Planning in the near future to determine the way forward."
Hassan also urged religious leaders to talk in a new and different way about the disease, warning the faithful about precautionary measures to avoid its transmission. These include washing hands with soap and running water, using disinfectants, maintaining a social distance and wearing face masks.
After Magufuli's death from heart problems aggravated by the virus and the death of the Prime Minister of the autonomous island of Zanzibar, who admitted to having Covid-19 shortly before passing away, Tanzania has become aware that it is not free of the infection and that the new variants are dangerous, even if only to a limited extent in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Hassan has guaranteed that the government will provide frequent updates on the state of the disease, in order to protect the country from the loss of human resources and preserve vulnerable groups.
There was no mention of vaccines and Tanzania's possible inclusion in the second part of the Covax programme funded by the Gavi consortium. The pressure from the World Health Organisation, which had already led the government to admit last February that there were patients being treated for coronavirus in the hospitals of Dar Es Salaam and other large Tanzanian cities, is making itself felt.
Another major breakthrough the new Government is seeing is the lifting of the ban on the media covering the subject, even quoting information from abroad. Magufuli's decision of total censorship had caused much controversy.
The Ministry of Telecommunications will continue to pay close attention to information deemed "fake", but the process of reactivating media channels, even those that are not pro-government, seems to have been taken.